Miscellaneous Monday - Spring Weather To-do's

[carrie_eandm]

Hello! Its time for #miscellaneous-monday!

I hail from the bitter north (Minnesota) and as chance would have it, its starting to warm up now! Today hit 60 degrees fahrenheit and boy, it was a treat! Just a few short weeks ago, we had up to 2 feet of snow and sub-zero temperatures. As spring weather approaches I feel everyone gets a bit stir-crazy and starts planning what they want to do "when it warms up", so my topic today is "What makes it to your short list of to-do's when the weather changes?"

I took this opportunity to get out/stay out of the house as long as possible!

• We took our terrier-mix on our first long walk (he's an adopted transplant from Georgia and still hasn't adjusted to winter weather after 7 years). 
• I cleaned my car. Front to back bumper! I took it through a car wash yesterday and then cleaned the interior today. Take out all garbage; cleaned windows, seats, cupholders; pulled the mats; vacuumed everything! I feel like I have a brand new car again.
• And a not so fun task - backyard clean up! As a dog owner, winter in the northland is not doo-doo friendly (deep snow, cold temps, chilly wind). We just let the pup out to do his business quickly and let it sit until spring. On a warm day like this - it becomes very apparent in a not so pleasant way. But I'll take cleaning it up now than trying to dig through a snowbank.

Cheers!

[Jimmy Seddon]

@carrie_eandm I can relate to the "winter blues" being slightly north of where you are in Ontario, Canada.

The first thing I always "want" to do is start planting seed in the garden, but I know that the weather needs to get much warmer and stabilize first before I start doing that.

The first thing I will probably end up doing is taking my 3 year old son to the public park at the end of our street.

It's supposed to get up to a high of 12 degress today (53.4 for anyone that needs that conversion ;) ) so I'm looking forward to that!

[carrie_eandm]

I have friends that start their gardens indoors around this time of year with those plastic bins or egg cartons! I always admire gardens and have wanted to do one myself - and then forget until about mid-summer.

It's so nice to finally be able to go outside and get some fresh air - enjoy the park!

[Scott Theus]

I had a bit of work done on the house last summer and fall; replaced the sanitary and storm drain lines from the house to the street, rebuilt the porch, and replaced the concrete walkway with brick. It looks nice but my yard and front gardens are now a quagmire of mud, fill dirt, and left over stones. 

Guess what I'll be doing as soon as it warms up enough!

[carrie_eandm]

@Scott Theus Oh man! It seems that yardwork never really ends, does it? The pathway looks amazing though - and as soon as the grass grows in, it will be lovely! Are you also doing planters around the house at all?

[Scott Theus]

I am! I have window boxes for the front, a few planters for the porch, and I'll do 4 hanging baskets. It'll look awesome once everything is in and the magnolia blooms.

[Kat Warner]

On the other side of the world... in the last couple of weeks it has become dark at the time my alarm sounds. Alas it is still bright at the time I would like my toddler to be sleeping.

This will only get worse in a few weeks when the semi-annual mess with the clock game happens again.

[carrie_eandm]

I feel you on the darkness/lightness. We've just gone through it and are now emerging into our longer days. This weekend was a bit rough to wake up again in darkness (daylight savings jumped ahead an hour), but being home while the sun is still out is a great trade off!

[Samie Kaufman - Your Gal at Gliffy]

What's up from Minneapolis!!! I'm so glad you got to get your fluffball outside while it was so nice yesterday.

I'm super lucky to live in an apartment, so this time of year requires zero yard work. I'm most excited to be able to run outside without the fear of slipping. ;) I'm also happy to leave the office while the sun's still out, now that we went through the time change.

[carrie_eandm]

MSP reppin'! Yes, the fear of slipping is now actually slipping away. Get out and enjoy!

[Sajit Nair _Trundl_]

'Namaste' everyone,

Great topic @carrie_eandm 
Here is my short list - 

1. "Restock the wardrobe" - May seem trivial, but cleaning and tucking away our 'winter clothes' and blankets is an important task coz they'd now come out only in November.  :)
2. "Take a trip on my bike" - This is the perfect weather for any biker. Its not too hot, not cold.. so just maybe put on some Doors or Dylan on my playlist in my headphones and start riding at Dawn and enjoy/appreciate the nature.
3. "Plan a vacation for summer" - This years target, Leh/Ladakh. 

[carrie_eandm]

@Sajit Nair _Trundl_ I'd say the wardrobe is on every Minnesotan's list (especially the bulky winter coats, boots, hats, etc). Its good to be able to refresh again!

Good luck with the trip planning. Leh/Ladakh looks amazing for avid outdoors-people! I love being able to tie in cultural stops as well with trips!

[Monique vdB]

@Sajit Nair _Trundl_ I have never understood the winter clothes/summer clothes thing and it only just now occurred to me that it's probably because I live in California where we don't really have seasons 😂

[Samie Kaufman - Your Gal at Gliffy]

I can confirm that I have two bins of clothing I'm scared to get out as well as multiple pairs of mittens I'm scared to put away. It seems as soon as I do, we'll get another blizzard!

One of my favorite Minnesota memories was deciding to trudge through inches of snow to get to our favorite neighborhood bar on a Friday night, then helping people shovel their cars out at 2am when the bar closed. That was in April. 😂

[Sajit Nair _Trundl_]

@carrie_eandm  - Its an amazing place. I did a 7day solo route there 3 years back and it turned out to be too less for the amazing cultural and geographical landmarks there. Hoping to tick off all the checkboxes this time. :)

@Monique vdB- Its a scary thing to see the 'winter weight' messing up my last summers wardrobe. I guess it acts as good reminder to hit the gym :D

@Samie Kaufman - Your Gal at Gliffy- No matter when you get rid of them bins, its gonna happen. 
I packed up one box last week and it rained cats and dogs for a couple days and temperature dropped. Murphys law. :/
Also, that memory sounds sweet. I hope they bought you a thank you pint. :)

[carrie_eandm]

@Samie Kaufman - Your Gal at Gliffy Like today? Silly snow. I have an early May birthday and I remember years ago when I was in college at UMD - it snowed 2 inches on my birthday. I'm sorry....what?! Sometimes those random snowstorm memories outweigh any "normal" snowfall of the year.

[Monique vdB]

We're getting our front yard landscaped this spring! And also some new front windows and a new kitchen window. I'm excited. 

[carrie_eandm]

Yes! That is very exciting!

[Dharma Ramos]

We are staying indoors, because being in Florida, this is pollen season right about now.

[carrie_eandm]

@Dharma Ramos Haha, yes! I love that MN isn't the only state that has different seasons. Up here its' Almost Winter, Winter, Still Winter and Road Construction.

[Jimmy Seddon]

Great Stuff! Some times up here winter doesn't stop road construction from happening ;)